SPECIAL
ASPECTS OF RAISING A MASTIFF PUPPY
Even a
small Mastiff is destined to be a large dog. This is something that must
be taken into consideration when rearing it. As a puppy, your Mastiff
should not be allowed to do anything that you would not wish your full
grown Mastiff to do, such as laying on the couch. And because your puppy
is going to be such a large dog, it is also a very, very good idea that
it receive, at a minimum, basic obedience training. You DO NOT want a
200 pound dog that won't listen to you; this can lead to obvious
problems.

Mastiffs grow at such an
astonishing rate that it is best not to force their growth with
artificial vitamins and calcium supplements. A good quality dog food is
all that they require. A Mastiff is going to get as large as it is going
to be, genetically, anyway; allowing them to grow at their own pace will
give them a more stable foundation once they get there. Many breeders
recommend NOT feeding a 'puppy diet' beyond the first few months due to
the high protein content.

During growth periods your Mastiff
puppy is subject to joint injury. You will need to be especially careful
during these times to control excessive exercise. A puppy may play at
its own rate but should not be encouraged to take long walks, jump
obstacles, or any other exercise that will stress the joints. This is
not to say the puppy has to be confined. Just use caution and do not
allow it to over exert itself.

A Mastiff remains a puppy much
longer than most breeds. Even though a Mastiff is already quite large by
the time it is 6 months old, it is still growing and maturing rapidly. A
Mastiff does not reach its full physical or mental maturity until after
3 years of age.

You will be surprised at how much
a Mastiff puppy will drink. Fresh water should be kept available at all
times. Drool will accumulate in the bottom of the pup's water dish.
Since the pup will not drink its own drool, the dish should be rinsed
out at least daily.

All puppies love to chew. Mastiffs
have very powerful jaws, even as a puppy. Some chew toys that are fine
for other breeds may not be suitable for your Mastiff. Caution should be
used when choosing toys or chew bones because the pup could bite off
pieces and swallow them, resulting in intestinal blockage. Mastiff
puppies also have a tendency to chew, or swallow, rocks and sticks. They
should be watched closely and discouraged from doing so.

This
cute adorable puppy needs to learn what is acceptable behavior in the
home. Before you bring your new pup home. It is recommended that
the owner gets a CRATE. Contrary to what people think a crate is
not a crul thing. It provides the pup with its own personal
space. The crate protects the pup as well as protects your
home. The crate provides an easier way to house break your
pup.

It is recomended to purchase a Crate that the pup can grow into.
---Get the largest crate you can.
a warm blanket or bed can be placed into the crate for the pup to lay
on. "NO PAPER IN THE CRATE"

Conformation
training or just training should start when the puppies are about 10
weeks old. The first thing to consider is the correct COLLAR.

You
should never use a narrow collar on a young puppy as it will cut into
his tender little neck. I believe that the chain collar are too heavy
for young puppies. If you put on a small puppy, he will lower his
head, then run and hide. A heavy collar on a young puppy is depressing
to him. The wide nylon is best for a puppy because it is so
light-weight that he wont mind it. He may scratchhis neck a few times because it feels strange to him, but
he’ll get use to it.

WARNING
When a puppy is wearing a choke collar, don’t leave him any
length of time as might catch it in something in your absence and hang
himself.

SIZE:
put collar around his neck and add 3 inches. I like the adjustable
collars as the Mastiff puppy grow so fast.

LEADS:
should be lightweight so the puppy does not object to them, and I have
found this is the easiest way to get a puppy use to wearing a collar.

Your
puppy can learn many things at a very early stage by different tones of
voice you . He may not understand the new word commands use, but he
instantlyrecognize your
different tones of voice. Performed each time a question is asked. Here
are a few examples:

Do
you want to go out ( As you walk to the door )

Do
you want dinner? ( As you pick up the puppy’s dish )

Do
you want a drink? ( As you turn the facet. )

Do
you want a cookie? ( As you take from the cookie jar )

Do
you want to go for a walk ? ( As you pick up the leash )

When
you use the word “NO” to correct your dog, lower the tone of
your voice. The tone of voice is what is important in training. Praise
make it gay and full of good spirits, and be sincere, as a dog can spot
insincerity.

When
handling you puppy or dog, be gentle, make a companion of him, talk to
him as you would a friend---conversationally. You won't spoil him by
doing this but will gain respect. Your dog will be your best friend and
you will gain his respect.

Your
puppy toenails are to be cut every two weeks to keep them short. If they
are permitted to grow unattended, they becomeunsightly, cause the puppy’s toes to spread a partand may cause lameness. If you cut them too short, and
accidentally cut into the quick and cause the nail to bleed. Don’t
panic. Just dab some coagulant powder on to it to stop bleeding. ( Quick
Stop ) Talk soothingly to the puppy and place a tiny bit of the powder on
bleeding nail. The bleeding will stop immediately. Alum will also stop
the bleeding.

The key to this whole process is to make all five things work in
conjunction with one another. You cannot do just one and expect
the dog to get housebroken.

1.
SCHEDULING
This is a list of suggested times to walk, feed and water your mastiff
pup. Times can be altered to your schedule, but be sure to spread
them evenly apart. This schedule is based on an 8 to 9 week old puppy
.

Suggested Schedule when someone is home all the time with the pup

Time

Procedure

7:00
7:30
10:00
11:30
2:30
4:30
7:30

11:30

AM
AM
AM
PM
PM
PM
PM

PM

Walk the dog
Feed, water, and walk
Water and walk
Feed, Water and Walk
Water and Walk
Feed, Water and Walk
Water and Walk
(last water of the day)
Walk the dog

Suggested Schedule for working people.

Time

Procedure

Wake Up
Before Leaving for Work

Midday

Home from work

Early Evening
Before Bedtime

Walk the Dog
Feed, Water and Walk

Have a friend, relative or neighbor
or Hired person Feed,
Water and walk the dog

WALKING THE DOG
Either walk the dog outside or let the dog use the back yard. You must
stay with the dog regardless to assure elimination has taken place.
Walk the dog for 20 minutes. If he does not eliminate within that time,
bring him inside and confine him or watch him very closely. If you catch him
eliminating in the house, correct him and take him outside immediately, to
finish the job.
Repeat the walk one hour later if necessary.

When you are at work, be sure to leave a dish of ice cubes for the dog,
When you are at work, keep the dog confined in a designated area, with a see
through puppy gate. DO NOT place newspapers on the floor. Accidents
should be expected and simply cleaned up when you get home. DO NOT
correct the dog about accidents that occurred while you were at work. You
may use an adequate sized wire dog crate providing someone comes to walk the dog
midday and you follow the rules about confinement.

Crating dogs for limited periods of time is not cruel. Dogs have a denning
instinct. Depending upon their age, puppies and Older dogs should not be
crated for excessive periods of time.

Here are the crating guidelines for Housebreaking:

Puppies between 2 and 6 months should not be crated for more than 2 to 4
consecutive hours.
Puppies between 6 and 12 months should not be crated for more than 4 to 6 hours
Judgment should be used based on the size and age of the dog.

2.
THE DIET
Both the amount of food and when the dog is fed are important.
Food requirement may vary depending on the size of the pup, environment, exercise
and stress factors.
The Best diet for a puppy in the house breaking process is one level tablespoon canned food
combined with one cup moistened (with water) quality dry food. (prepare
enough food to feed the pup) The proper amount of food is
just as important as the proper kind. If you feed the pup and excessive
amount, he will need to relieve himself more often. If you feed him too
little , he will start to chew the house down.

Leave food down for 15 minutes. Do not leave food or water down during other
times as long as the dog is being housebroken.

3.
USING AN ODOR NEUTRALIZER
Wash all areas where the dog has gone to the bathroom in the house with
an odor neutralizer. The scent must be completely eliminated.
Remember that just because the owner can't smell the tell-tails of a previous elimination, the dog may be able to.

4.
CONFINEMENT
The dog is to be confined when no one is home or when you are not able to
watch the dog. The dog is to be confined with only a mesh puppy gate or a
wire dog crate. Do Not expect the dog to understand the reason for a dog
door until he is housebroken.